Cell



I Aug. 24 1926. v 1,597,553

. A. T. STUART CELL Filed June 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Au 24,1926 UNITED STATES PATENT {om-E.

ALEXANDER mourns s'ruanr, or TORONTO, ONTAB'IO', CANADA.

GELL' Application filed June 29, i925. Serial NO. 46,368.

My invention relates to a cell character-- the electrode is interposedbetween, and laterally spaced from, two othereleetrodes of polarityopposite to that of the interposed electrode; (12) by two electrodesofthe same same polarity each having its major surface in the samedirection as the circuit across the intervening spaces, and an electrodeof opposite polarity interposed between the other two; (0) by twoelectrodes of the samepolarity', and an interposed electrode of oppositepolarity to the other two each having its major surface inthe samedirection as the a circuit across the intervening spaces; whereby largeareas of such electrode surfaces may be' providedin a single cell, ofrelatively small cubic dimensions, in such intimate relation that theyactively operate at low voltage and obtain maximum quantity production,and'thereby maximum to arrange any desired number of electrodes, of thesame polarity, in parallel or substan-v efliciency at low operating'cost.

A convenient method of providing these large areas of active electrodesurfaces -is tially parallel formation and connect them as a group. Oneof such groups may be assembled between, and spaced from, two otherelectrodes of polarity opposite to' its polarity with the major surfaceof each electrode of the group-in the same direction as the circuitacross the spaces intervening between electrodes ofjopposite polarity ortwo. or more such groups may be placed in the cell with the majorsurfacesof the electrodes of each group set end to end and preferably inalignment with the major sur-' faces of the corresponding electrodes ofthe adjoining group or grou s and the ends of the electrode surfaces 0each group separated from the ends of the electrode surfaces of theadjoiningv group or groups by inter veningspaces for the interpositionof a dlaphragmv and for the prevention of short circuits.

. of such electrodes.

A cell-constructed according ,to my inventlon may comprise any number ofelectrodes or electrode groups which, without restricting the use or itsconstruction tothe followingparticulars, may be made from sheet metalabout, ().02 inches in thickness sheared into strips 1.5 inches wide byinches high and subsequently stamped to form spacing buttonsapproximately 0.1 inch, deep. Each strip, at the top and intermediate ofits 'lateral edges may be attached to a terminal about 0.1'1nch by 0.5inches in cross section,

and these strips -may be suspended vertically in the electrolyte fromthese terminals. Any. number of groups of these electrode surfaces maybe used in the cell structure and for the purpose of explaining theinvention and as a basis for my calculations I have illustrated a cellcontaining 13 groups group may be spaced laterally about 0.1 inch apartwith 0.1 inch space between groups. Each, group may comprise 600strips-or a total of 7,800 electrodes in thei13 groups, and in a cellwhich is approximately 2 feet The electrodes of each wide by 6 feet longby 6 feet high, the total.

superficial area of the -diaphragms between groups, there being 12'diaphragms, will be 300 square feet and the' total superficial electrodesurface will be 9,750 square feet, or some 32.5 times the area of thediaphragms. Nothing is suspended in the electrolyte except these lowcost electrodes and the diaphragms necessary to the separation of thegases vand consequently theelectrolyte can circulatewith the greatestfreedom. In a cell for the electrolysis of water this arrangementofelectrodes reduces the internal resistance to a minimum and the largesurfaces comb'ined with the free circulation of the electrolytepractically eliminate polarization by gas bubbles, while the spacesbetween the strips allow the ready egress of the gases and the gas lifteffect maintains an active circulation of the electrolyte up thesurfaces of the electrodes.

A battery of these cells may be housed together to conserve the heat sothat by suitable regulation of the airyents between cells thetemperature of the cells may be maintained at an 'desired degree. I havefound it practica le to operate the cells at t the following resultshave been obtained:

approximately 65 C. Atthisteniperature Cu. it. gases dipeggiour perAmperes l'sq. t. ap agm'. volts Efficiency per sq. It.

per per 1 cell per cent. k w h of diaphragm. 0 Total H andO.

per 1 k. w. h. consumed and a large gas pro- F duction per 1 sq. ft. -ofdia bra-gm area. The particular cellprevi'ously escribed havmg 300square feet of diaphragm area will therefore, operate as follows 1, v

- 1 At 1.6 volts 6,000 amperes or 14A. 0. f. total gas production per 1hour.

At 1.7 volts 12,000. amperes or 288 c. f.

total gas production per 1 l1our. I

Heretofore, on account-of costs of construction as: well as on accountof small capacity for gas production-at low voltage, it 1 has not beencommercially feasible to operate the cell. at voltages lower than 2.2volts or at efficiencies higher than 68.2% and with the production ofmore than 10.91 c. f. total gas per 1 k. w. h.

There are'otherf cases where thecost of electric energy is a smallfactor, such as in the utilization of oifepeakcapacity' on -water powerplantsor using electric a1 energy at the site of the plant. In suchcases itis not necessary to operate cells at high de grees of efficiencyaird it may be desirable, in order 'to reduce, the capital cost, .to usecells having perhaps only 'sq. ft. ofdiaphragm gas production per fhour.

area and which'will produce as much gas as the larger cell described,but at lower efiiciencies; A cell containing 50 sq. ft. will operate asfollows:

At'1.8'volts 4,000amps'. or 96 c. fltotal gas production per 1 hour.'

At 1.9 volts 5,500 amps. or 1320. f. totalf.. total" At 2.0 volts-8,250amps. or 19 gas production per 1 hour. 7 At 2.1volts 10,750 amps. or 2580. gas production'per 1 hour. i

Heretofore, one of the great obstacles in cell operation has been thecorrosionof elecfptotal trodes, and not only has it been necessary andcostly to provide for replacement of anodes at regular intervals but thecorroded material has caused short circuits and other troubles. .I'havefound that: I canobviate all troubles in this direction-by operating attion, positioning and electrical connection 18 that I canassemble-in asingle-cell, of

relatively small cubic dimensions, large areas of electrode surfaces, insuch intimate relation that all these surfaces actively opcrate in theprocess and produce results as 'above described. I can obtain muchhigher electrical efficiencies and greater capacities, at lower capitalcost, by placing, alternately, electrode surfaces of opposite'polarityend .to end With their major surfaces in the same direction asthecircuit across the intervening spaces and withboth ends of eachelectrode surface similarly functioning, than it is possible. to obtainby any other knownv electrode arrangement."

In the fdrawingsf Fig. 1.is afdiagrammatic plan of threeeIectrodes,withtheir major surfaces arranged in the same direction asthe circuit across the intervening spaces with opposite ends of theinterposed electrode surface similarly functioning,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sidelvation of the construction shown in 'Fig.1,

Fig. 3 is a d'agrammatic plan of a plu-E rality of groups- 0felectrodes,

Fig-4 is a diagrammatic to Fig. 3 with diaphragms lateral edges ofadjoining groups,

Fig. 5 isa diagrammatic plan of -a multiplicity of groups of parallelelectrodes, the electrodes of alternate groups being electricallyconnected with one pole, and the electrodes of the other groups beingelece tically connected with the other pole.- 1

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing lan similar etween' the howgroupsof one polarity may be. .en-

circled by diaphragms,

Fig- This" {ll-detailed -vertical sectional view of a separate unitoxygenhydrog'en cell,-"illustrating the preferred method of as- 1sembling, the section being taken on the line.

77 of Fig. 8,. 4 Fig. 8 is a detailed'hor'izontal sectional 'view on theline .8-8 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a plan View ofthe cover of the cell, showing how the terminalsare are ranged. I According to my 1', 1, 1", 1, 1 ,11", 1, ,arealternately'arinvention the electrodes 120. ranged .as' positiveelectrodes andqnegative electrodes and are set edge to. edge in the.'cell with their major surfaces in the'same direction as 'the circuit ofthe u current through the electrolyte. 'By this assembly the currentcircuits'across the intervening spaces or electrolytic gaps. betweenelectrodes of opposite polarity, and opposite ends .of the majorsurface-0f each electrode then similarly function and the current at oneend of each major surface flows in an opposite direction to thecurre'ntat the other end.. In the drawings I have shown each structures such asconducting wires, games,

bars, rods, plates, tubes and the-likemay besubstituted for andarrangedin the same,

way as the thin metal strips... s shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive anynumber of electrodes of like polarity may be arranged as a group, andsuch groups are alternately arranged as positive electrodes and negativeelectrodes. When electrodes are assembled or arranged as-a group,'theelectrodes of each group are spacdapart by buttons 6, suitablystaggered, and are tied together by tie rods 7- entered through holes 8inthe electrodes. 7 The electrodes of each group are electricallyconnected to a conductor and for this purpose each elec trode isprovided, interjac'ent its edges, with an electrical contact or terminal'2. The terminals-of all the positive electrodes are connected toconductors 3 andthe terminals of all the negative electrodes areconnected to conductors 4 which in turn are supported from the cellcover 10 by collars or look nuts 9, 9? respectively.

this construction the electrodes can be suspended below -the level ofthe electrolyte and when used in an oxygen-hydro gen cell, each group ofelectrodesof one polaritycan beconveniently encircled by a diaphragm 5,-open at the top, which passes through, and approximately fill, the.space intervening between adjoining groupsfor isolating the gas madewithin the diaphragm from the gas made outside it. A gas compartment 11is attached to the under side of the cell cover 10 and is formed withflanged openings 11 through which the gas: enters the compartment. 'The'diaphragms 5 are suspended from the base ofthe gas compartment 11 andenclose the flanged openings 11 so that the gas made Within thediaphragms can enter the compartment. Between the flanged openings11*?are-h rizontal channels 12 for conducting the gas, made outside thediaphragms, laterally to either side of the gas compartment, where itrises to the cell' cover 10.

From the compartments "11 is a tubular duct. 13 and from the cell areaexterior of the compartment is a duct 14 to conduct the gases toseparate mains. Electrolyte and feed water may be supplied to the cellfrom the reservoir 15.

Electric current,supplied by means of the conductor 3 and terminals 2 tothe positive groups, circuits outwardly from each terminal, over theentire body, and flows in opposite directions from both edges, of eachpositive electrode, interposed between two negative electrodes, andacross the electrolytic gaps, or intervening spaces to, the ad- .jacentnegative electrodes. Each negative electrode, interposed b etwe en twopositive electrodes, ;"receives at both: edges, the. current circuitingacross the electrolytic gaps. Thecurrent flows inwardly from both edges,and in opposite directions over the entire body, of each negativeelectrode to itsrespective terminal and conductor 4.

The electrodes are preferably made of metal of such cross section thatthe resist-' ance to the flow of the current is negligible ascomparedwith the resistance across the electrolytic gaps, and whenpositive and negative electrodes are alternately arrangedin-thecelland'set edge toedgeand uniform- 1y spaced, thecurrent will di'videat.the me- 4 dian line of each positive electrode and flow outwardly andapproximately equally and uniformly to its opposite ends or edges,

across theelectrolytic gaps to the adjacent ends or edges of thenegative electrodes, and th'en'inwardly from the edges, to themedianline, of each interposed negativeelectrode approximately equallyanduniforml'y.

Thus the opposite edges'or ends of the major surface of each positiveelectrode interposed between two negative electrodes similarly function,and likewise the opposite edges or'ends' of the major surface of eachnegative electrode interposed between two positive electrodes similarlyfunction.-

As there is only a negligible drop in voltage over each electrodesurface and the potential across the electrolytic gaps is approximatelythe same throughout the extent of each electrode surface. oppositefedgesof both the positive and negative electrodes produce equivalent amountsof gas. A Oxygen is generated on all positive surfaces but moreintensely at the edges and surfaces adjacent to the diaphragm. Intheillustration the oxygen'is generated within the encircling. diaphragmsopen at the to and-enclosing the flanged openings of sit oxygencompartment. Hydrogen is generated on all negativesurfaces and iscollected outside the oxygen compartment.

The electrolyte freely circulates as are sult ,oftheelectrodeconstruction and the gas lift effect of the'gas bubbles, the circulationbeing rapidly upward between the spaced electrodes-to the level abovethem,

thence laterally in both directions to the ends of the groups ofelectrodes, thence down and beneath the groupsto the spaces I I posedgroup similarly function and equal currents fiow in opposite directionsat both ends'of each interposed electrode surface and therefore, eachelectrode is capable of doing doublethe work that it would perform ifonly one end ofthe .electrode sure face were functioning.

The term major surface, as 1 used throughout the description and'claimsrelates to the superficial area of a single "electrode .member, incontradistinction to the lc)ross sectional area of a group of suchmemers.

The term opposite ends as used throughout the specification and claimsis intended to mean 'the boundaries opposed to corresponding boundariesof the adjacentelectrodes; 1

Having thus fully described my invention what -I claim as newand desireto secure by '20, Letters Patent is:

'1. A cell for the electrolysis of watcr. comprising an electrode havingitsflmajor sur- ,face in the same direction as .the circuit through theelectrolyte, opposite ends of its major surface similarly functioningand the current at one end fiowingin anxop'pos ite direction tothecurrent at the other end, in

combination with two electrodes of opposite polarity atthe extremitiesof the major surface-of the first mentioned electrode and .spacedtherefrom by electrolytic gaps.

- 2. In a-cell an electrode having its major surface in the samedirection as the circuit through the electrolyte, opposite ends of its 1major surface similarly functioning and the, current at one'end flowinginan opposite polarity and'an electrode of'opposite polardirection tothe current at theother end.

" In aicell, electrodes s aced apart one ofwhich hasits major sur ace inthe same 40 direction as the circuitacross the intervening-spaces,iopposite ends of its major surface. similarly functioning and thecurrent at one end flowing in an opposite direction to the current atthe other end.

rection as thecircuit across the intervening spaces, oppositeendsof saidsurface similar In a'cell two electrodes -of the same polarity and anelectrode of opposite polarityplaced between the fother' two with its 5major surface in-thesame direction as the circuit across-thesp'acesbetweenthe electrodes.--"

6. In a cell two electrodes of the same polarity and an electrode ofopposite polarmajor surface in the samefdirectionas the circuit acrossthe spaces'between' the. elecmajor surface similarly functioning.

' 7. In a cell two electrodes -offthe same 'ity placed between the othertwo WlthjltS functioning and opposed to the first two -and laterallyinward 4.In a cell electrodes sp'aced'aparh-one of which has its majorsurface'in the same di-' ity placed betweenthe othertw with itsvpolarity and an electrode of opposite'polarity placed between the othertwo with its major surfaceiu the same direction as the circuit acrossthe intervening spaces and the current at one end of the major surfaceflowing in an opposite direction to th'e current at the other en i i 8.In a cell two electrodes of the same polarity and an electrode ofopposite polarma or surface'in the-same direction as the circ'uit acrossthe intervening s aces and the opposite ends of the m'ajorsur acesimilarly.-

mentioned electrodes.

9. In a cell two electrodes of opposite polarity set'edge to edge 'withtheir major surfaces in the same direction as the circuit across theintervening spaces andboth opppsite extremities of each electrodesurface similarly functioning for causing the flow of the currentlaterally outward from the extremities of oneof said electrode surfacesfrom the extremities of theother. 00 '10. In'a'cell two electrodes; ofthe same polarity. and an electrode of opposite polarityplaced betweenthe other two, all ,of said electrodes being set edge to edge with theirmajor-surfaces in the sameldirection as the circuit across theintervening spaces and both lateral edges 'of the interposed electrodesimilarly funct oning for the flowof the current. at one lateral edge inan opposite direction to the current at the other lateral'edge. 11-. Ina cell two electrodes of the same comprising a. group of electrodes ofthe same polarity arranged with their major; surfaces in the samedirection as the circuit across. the electrolytic gaps and connected forthe flow. of the cur-rent atone lateral edgein an opposite direction tothe current atthe other lateral edge, and

two other'electrodesjopposed to the lateral edges of the first mentionedelectrodes.

14. A cell comprisingan electrode arranged with its major surface in thesame direction as the circuit across the ,electrolytic gaps and,connected for the fiow of 'thecurrent' at one of its lateral edges in anopposite direction to the current at the trodesrahdhaving' the oppositeends of the other. lateral edge, and two other electrodes of" oppositepolarity to the-firstsmentioned 15. A cell comprising two groups ofelectrbdesof the same polarity and a group of electrodes of oppositepolarity placed between-the other two groups with the major surface ofeach electrode of eachgroup in o the same direction as the circuitacross the electrolytic gaps and both lateral edges of the. interposedelectrode similarly function 16. A cell comprising two groups ofelectrodes of the same polarity and a group of electrodes of oppositepolarity placed between/the other groups with the majorsurface of eachelectrode of each group in the same direction as the circuit across the;.spaces between groups, both'lateral edges of each,electrode of theinterposed group similarly functioning, and the current at one of saidlateral edges flowing in an opposite direction to. ;t he current at theother edge.

17.. In a cell two or more groups of electrodes, each group comprising aplurality of electrodes in parallel and spaced relation and of the'samepolarity with the major surface of each electrode "of each groupjin thesame direction as the circuit through the electrolyte and eachinterposed electrode having both its lateral edges similarlyfunctioning. a g

18. In a cell two or more groups of electrodes each group comprising aplurality of electrodes in parallel and spaced relation and of the samepolarity with the major surface of each electrode of each group in thesame direction as the circuit through the electrolyte,- each interposedelectrode having both its lateral edges similarly functioning, and thecurrent at one lateral edge flowing in an opposite direction to the curerent at the other edge.

19. A cell comprising two electrodes of opposite polarity arranged withtheir major 'surfaces in the same direction as the circuit,

and each connected for the flow of the 'current at one of its lateraledges in an opposige direction to the current .at the other e ge.

20'. In a cell two electrodes of the same polarity with themajor surfaceof each of I the electrodes in the same directionas-the circuit acrossthe spaces-between electrodes, and an electrode of opposite polarityplaced between the other. two.

v 21. In a cell two groups of electrodes of the same polarity, eachgroup comprising a plurality of electrodes in parallel and spacedrelation, with the majorsurface of each electrode of each group in thesame direction as the clrcuit across the spaces between groups, and anelectrode of opposite polarit interposed between said groups.

22. In a cell for the electrolysis of water, two electrodes of onepolarity andan electrode of opposite polarity interposed between, setedgewise with, and separated by electrolytic gaps from, the other two,each electrode comprising a metal strip suspended vertically in theelectrolyte and the interposed electrode having its opposite edgessimilarly. functioning with the current at one edge flowing in anopposite direction to the current at .the other edge.

23.-In a cell, an electrode comprising a thin metal stri I electrolytehaving 1ts major surface adjacent its two vertical edges substantiallyin the same direction as the flow of the curwhich are adjacent the firstmentioned elec-' trodes, similarly functioning.

Dated at the said city of Toronto, this 25th day'of June, A. D. 1925.

ALEXANDER THOMAS LSTUART.

suspended vertically in the

